m52tub28 double vanos in e30? What parts from donor car?

[fenixsz]

Hello,

What I need from donor car to run Double Vanos m52tub28 in e30? It will be with OBDI II?

It will be daily car and this torquer engine is on top of my wishlist!

[hoveringuy]

Very few people have transplanted the M52tu into the e30 and kept it OBDII. It is electrically challenging, but it can be done.

[fenixsz]

well, m52tu is double vanos and obd 1 will not be possible?

I am looking at m52, because it is lighter with his aluminum block and will balance the car. Stock hp's of this engine is enough for me.

Most probably, I will look for whole donor car from UK, but I am aware of Nikasil problems of 90's engines.

From wiki

M52 engine in some markets, especially the UK, which had high levels of sulfur in the petrol during the late 90's. Sulfur acts as a corrosive agent against Nikasil and led to a lot of the early engines having premature bore-liner wear. Fortunately this problem was solved in post-September 1998 cars with the introduction of steel cylinder liners, with the designation M52 TU-3. However problems are still present in these engines so affected cars of this period should be bought with caution unless the service history verifies that work was carried out to rectify the problem. The American market M52 used iron sleeves from the beginning, and so, was unaffected by this problem.

A Technical Update or M52TU version in 1999 added Double-VANOS and other modifications.

So engine should be either post-September 1998 single vanos with steel liners or post 1999 double vanos.

If I find single vanos, I can make it obd 1, but post-September 1998 will be very rare option.

[z31maniac]

well, m52tu is double vanos and obd 1 will not be possible?

I think this is how hovering did it, but with a standalone VANOS controller.

The guy is an electrical genius.

[fenixsz]

yep, I saw his thread about m54b30 - it's awesome!

I know that m52tub28 and m54 are very similiar engines - how far I am from true?

Are all parts needed for running stock obdi 2 m52tub engine in e30 in donor's car?

[dirtysix]

Use the m52.
The nikasil was an issue with fuel that had high levels of sulfur added to it.
Most countrys ran nikasil engines with no problems.
I believe this is no longer an issue.

[fenixsz]

Use the m52.
The nikasil was an issue with fuel that had high levels of sulfur added to it.
Most countrys ran nikasil engines with no problems.
I believe this is no longer an issue.

OK, but in this case I should avoid cars and engines from UK :(

[MattM]

depends on what car the doner is... you will need other parts too.. read the stickys

[Major]

How can you tell whether an M52 is OBD-I or OBD-II? I have one in my garage, no idea what the donour car is apart from a 328i automatic that had done 71'000 miles.

[fenixsz]

How can you tell whether an M52 is OBD-I or OBD-II? I have one in my garage, no idea what the donour car is apart from a 328i automatic that had done 71'000 miles.

As far as I know, all M52's are OBD II, but those with single vanos can be converted to OBD I.

[z31maniac]

As far as I know, all M52's are OBD II, but those with single vanos can be converted to OBD I.

Correct, at least state side. I can't comment on engine from other parts of the world.

The dual vanos M52 is the M52B28TU if I remember correctly.

[Major]

Ah, thank you! Then my next question is, how do I know if it's a TU or not?

[10Toes]

Ah, thank you! Then my next question is, how do I know if it's a TU or not?

It will be double vanos.

Double vanos





single vanos

[Major]

Thank you! :) So I have an OBD-II single VANOS M52?

[hoveringuy]

Thank you! :) So I have an OBD-II single VANOS M52?

Yes. That's single VANOS.